Flotation process



Patented June 17, 1930 UNITED STATES PA-TEN OFFICE GEORGE LUTZ, OF ROCKY RIVER, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE GRASSELLI CHEMICAL COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF DELA WARE FLOTATION PROCESS No Drawing.

- This invention relates to flotation processes for the separation of valuable ore constituents in which the flotation process is assisted by acids or their water soluble. salts in which the alkyl substituent has at least 3 carbon atoms, impart to their water solutions very desirable wetting properties; such solutions, for instance, will form acontinuous film on oily or greasy, water-repellent metallic surfaces.

' I have now found that these alkyl substittd lthl lf' "d h u e napl a we Su Omc am but using 1/2 part butyl-naphthalene sulfonic acid instead of the propyl-derivative,

added in small amounts to flotation operations, will assist in the selective separation of the ore constituents and also that they are in themselves frothing agents, which, when used in connection with the usual collecting agents, will permit of a good commercial separation and recovery of the valuable ore constituents.

Propyl-, butyl-, benzyl-naphthalene'monosulfonic acids are typical representatives of the class ofalkyl-naphtha-lene sulfonic acids which I have tried and found useful in flotation processes. They are particularly applicable in connection with the flotation of sulfidic-ores. V

My novel process comprisessubstantially submitting ore in the form of a pulp to a flotation operation in the presence of an alky lated naphthalene sulfonic acid with or without the addition of either a collecting agent or a frothingagent.

The following examples will show specific application of my invention to flotation processes of various ores:

1. pyrites ore containing small aniounts of chalcopyrite was used. It assayed 0.26% A0, 0.45% Ag, 1.52% Cu 1.1% Zn, 43.5% Fe, and 12.5% insoluble. 'l his ore was ground to pass 82% through a 300 mesh screen and was floated in standard pneumatic rougher and cleaner cells at 31/2 to 1 pulp density. It was first conditioned by pre-agitation with I 5 parts'sodium hydroxide, 1/20 part sodium cyanide, and floated with 1/2 part propyl- Application filed January 30, 1928. Serial No. 250,735.

naphthalene sodium sulfonate and 1/10 part distilled pine oil, the parts given representing pounds per ton of ore. The following table gives the results obtained in this flotation process:

Per cent Contain- Per cent of total ing per Cu of weight cent Cu total Cu Concentrate 19.90 6. 30.95 Tailings 80.10 0.38 19.05

With the same ore and a similar operation,

the following results were obtained:

Per cent Contain- Pei cent of total ing per Cu of weight cent On total Cu Concentrate 19. 13 7. 17 84. 13 Tailings'. 80. 87 0 32 15. 87

2. A lead ore was used in this test, consisting of a clean Utah galena containing only pyrites as-the other mineral sulphide of importance. zThiS ore was ground topass through a 200-meslr screen and was floated in a standard flotation cell, using the following reagents, the parts given being equivalent to pounds per ton of ore:

. 2 parts soda ash, 1/4 part thiocarbanilide, 1/10 part sodium cyanide, and 1/8 part propyl-naphthalene sodium sulfonate as the frothing agent; the following results were Using the same ore and the following reagents: 2 parts soda ash, 1/4 part thiocarcontains more than 2 carbon atoms as a froth banilide, 1/10 part sodium cyanide, and 1/4 mg agent in a flotation process for the concenv part butyl-naphthalenesodium sulfonate, the tration of ores or minerals. r

f, I aflix my signature.

following results were obtained:

These tests are remarkable for the high lead content in the flotation concentrate.

The froth produced by the alkyl naphthalene sulfonatein the above tests was not very persistent, but was suflicient to produce good separation as in'dicatedby the results.

Additions of small amounts of pine oil did not help the froth 'to stand up, and seemed rather to decrease the lead content of the concentrates. The use of caustic alkali, on the other hand, decreased materially the effect of the naphthalene sulfonic acids.

Other collecting and frothing agents can be i used in connection with the particular naphthalene sulfonic acids, as Well as other additions, such as alkali metal sulfites or soluble copper salts, and the conditions under which these agents are used or details of the process "can be varied, as well known to those skilled in this art, without departing from the spirit of this invention.

The alkylated naphthalene sulfonic acids are commercially available in the form of their sodium salts; as such they are well adapted for flotation work; other Water soluble salts or the free acids could also be used,

theiactual compound present in the flotation v operation depending upon the acid or alkaline condition of the operation.

For'purposes of this invention I wish it to be understood that the benzyl radical orsimilar alphyl-aryl groups are: included in the term alkyl as used herein.

I claim: 51. In a process of concentrating ores or minerals by a froth flotation operation, the

step which comprises performing the froth flotation operation in the presence of an al kyl-naphthalene sulfonic acid compound.

. 2. "In a process of concentrating ores or minerals by a froth flotation operation, the

step which comprises'performing the froth flotation operation in the presence of a water soluble alkyl-naphthalene sulfonic acid compound in which the alkyl group contains at 7 least 3 carbon atoms.

3. Ina process of concentrating ores or mlnerals, the step which comprises adding an alkyl-naphthalene sodium sulfonate to the ore pulp and subjecting said pulp to a froth flotation operation.

4. The use of an alkyl-naphthalene sulfonic and compound in which the alkyl group In testimony whereo GEORGE LUTZ. 

